Verona

A little over an hour train trip and we were in Verona where we were meet with cloudy raining skies. Our B&B is very close to everything so we set off to have some lunch and get our bearings. Much wider streets with beautiful buildings made the soggy walk a bit more bearable. We witnessed a street demonstration on stopping cruelty to animals with car loads of police hiding out in the warmth of their vehicles.

We came across some ancient roman ruins which date back to 50BC along side pretty piazzas and designer shops. Take a look at the street performers and guess how they are doing it.

Cliff had me going when he announced that Verona had a law that said you couldn't hold hands. Apparently he thought the poster showing a man and a woman holding hands meant you couldn't do it, he wasn't wearing his glasses so couldn't read the writing which said you can go bare chested. He also thought the do not camp sign was saying you can't have sex on the park bench. Obviously he had spent too much time in Venice where it's more permiscuis. I couldn't stop laughing.

Reflections of Venice

Well our 2 weeks visit has come to an end and once again we pack our luggage and move onto other parts of Italy. We loved our stay in Venice and would come back again if we had the opportunity.

They have incredible systems set up to move people and things around the city. The barges move constantly on the canals transporting people and goods. You should see the couriers unpacking boxes and placing them on carts to transport to shops or people's houses. Then there is the rubbish removal, you have to put out your plastic bags on the street before 8.30am for the carts to wheel in and remove. When cart is full they wheel them to the barge waiting and a crane picks up the cart and lifts it over the barge, then the bottom opens and the rubbish is deposited in the hole in the barge.

When moving carts around the city you have to take into account the masses of people, narrow streets and bridges. You can hear the sound of 'attentioni' coming from behind you and that means get out of the way I have a cart that can run you over. Lol

I would hate to be in Venice in the summer as they say its really crowded. We had to get use to the volume of people around us and it was good that our apartment was in a quiet street so we could get away from the noise and sleep soundly. Most people live in the quieter parts and every small community has its campo and church. We lost county of the number of churches in Venice.

We were impressed with the history of Venice and you could spend all day in the many museums. The art work and sculpture were beautiful and everywhere you go you can see history around you.

Food was fantastic with lots to choose from with bars being the cheaper option. Their bars were small and sell most types of drinks and light food which was good for lunch. We brought our lunch from them sometimes as a take away which we then walked to the nearest Campo and sat at the well to eat with the rest of the tourists. The wells where once used by the community to receive water and we were told in those days you could only come twice a day. They have three levels of steps around them so good for sitting and catching our breath.

We visited the Jewish ghetto that was a place for refuge during the time of the inquisition when Jews were persecuted. The Venicians would lock them in by raising the entrances so that they would not be found. Also in the Second World War they hid in the ghetto however Mussolini gave them over to the Nazis and many were taken to the death camps. There are plaques on the wall of the main campo depicting this horrible event.

On a lighter note I brought a new coat in Venice and gave my old one to charity. We also purchase a Murano glass lamp shade to remind us of our visit. We really enjoyed the Peggy Guggenheim museum, I have added a section of photos of some of the art and the gardens. Very thought provoking art.

One for Michelle

I had to take a few photos of the many variety of shoes here in Venice. I call them the good the bad and the ugly - I will let you be the judge on which is which.

Oh and there is always a bag to match the shoes, so many colours so many to choose from.

Trip to Lido

We were going to visit the Peggy Guggenheim collection but on arrival we found it closed on Tuesdays, rats. We had been talking about travelling to Lido which is where Venetians go to in summer so we decided to go there instead, even though it was cloudy and still cold. The ferry pulled in as we purchased our tickets and with cameras in hand we happy snaps photos on the way. Lido is a separate island just a few minutes from Venice. When we arrived we found wide streets, grass frontages to hotels and cars. We had got use to not worrying about cars but we didn't need to fear as the cold weather meant there were few people and cars about. We had a lovely pizza in a cafe down at the beach and then walked along the promenade. You can see from the photo below the beach huts scattered along the beach which seem to stretch the whole way. We assume that in summer people rent them to hold all their cloths etc but have no idea of he cost.

On the way back on the ferry we took more pictures as you get a different view from the water.
Tomorrow we will visit the Guggenheim collection and attend the 5pm church session at an Anglican Church near by. They have advertised a choir so we are keen to hear them sing.